JotCast | Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat

Ben Clemens FanGraphs Chat - 5/16/22

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Ben Clemens

3:19

The Mariners are one of the teams I"m talking about were they'd obviously prefer to have a regular everyday DH, but they do not hvae that guy

It's not even just Kelenic underperforming.... he's been replaced by Steven Souza Jr.

3:20

They have more lineup spots than good hitters, so... gotta put someone there

Steve O

3:20

Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton (22 combined) have more HRs than the Tigers (16), Red Sox (20), and the Royals (21).

Ben Clemens

3:20

Well that's just a fun statistic

3:20

Taking out the BP homerun off Pujols last night, what do you make of Joey Bart's year? Concerned about the massively high K rate or optimistic about the BB rate, defense and above average wRC+?

Ben Clemens

3:20

I'm definitely encouraged

3:21

The strikeout rate is not good. It's not good at all. I'm worried about his contact rate, no doubt

3:22

But the bar at catcher is low, he has some pop, and he can take a walk. I think he'll strike out less, probably not keep up his power clip, and average out to a 100 wRC+ type with the bat

That's a nice player at catcher

B. Ryce Hammer

3:22

For some reason, I just love Harper home runs. They’re aesthetically pleasing

Ben Clemens

3:23

It's the swing. His swing has a really delightful combination of smoothness and raw power

3:24

You know the whole 'lefty swings are prettier than righty swings' thing? Sometimes I doubt that... and then I see Harper swing and it's so fun

Sir Benjamin Clementine of Fangraphia

3:24

What do you think happens with Bogaerts this season?

Ben Clemens

3:24

I think he opts out but stays in Boston because the team gets cold feet on using Story as his replacement

3:24

Trevor Story had a better week. Are you encouraged?

Ben Clemens

3:25

Speak of the devil! I'm encouraged for sure. I'm more on the Steamer (.237/.313/.415) end than ZiPS (.256/.330/.466) though

3:26

You had to know he'd break out of such a hellacious slump at some point

I'm still not sold on him as a 4 WAR shortstop type, though, and I think they probably want that

Some Guy

3:26

But you're really worried about Franmil Reyes despite posting a 170 wRC+ in his last ten games?

Ben Clemens

3:26

Sure

3:27

Reyes is hot as hell and still striking out 41% of the time with no walks

That's just so many strikeouts

In that wildly hot 10-game stretch.... he's striking out 31% of the time

3:28

I think it's just a hard needle to thread unless he starts to make more contact

Ramos

3:28

How can Julian Merryweather get sent down with one of the top XFIPs in baseball?

Ben Clemens

3:28

I'm not sure I get it. Forget xFIP, it's not even like he's giving up a ton of homers

3:29

He's missing bats. He's not walking anybody. I hvaen't looked into it closely, but I really don't get it

Alby

3:29

Shouldn't what you said about pure DHs -- there aren't enough to go around -- apply to closers as well?

Ben Clemens

3:29

Yeah, I think so.

3:30

If you have a true shutdown guy, you should probably make him a closer or something approximating a closer

Somethin where all of their innings are high leverage

3:31

If you need to play matchups because you don't have that guy.... well, I don't like the idea of plugging in someone only okay as your unquestioned best option

Vladito

3:31

Anything serious to worry about with Bichette or do you expect him to be fine? He’s chasing everything

Ben Clemens

3:31

I think he'll probably keep chasing everything but do a little bit better on those chases

And on the stuff that's in the zone

That's kinda what you get with Bichette. He doesn't make great swing decisions, but he's just a great athlete and great hitter anyway

Guest

3:31

If Castellanos and Schwarber and Phillies are playing well at the All Star Break and the Red Sox are still struggling, is there a universe in which Bogaerts is sent to the Phillies and Phillies send back Schwarber to help with the DH saturation situation?

Ben Clemens

3:32

I mean.... no. IF the Phillies are playing well, they're not gonna trade Schwarber

Golan Norman

3:32

How do you feel about Oli Marmol's bullpen management?

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